OP: I am sorry this happened to you. It must have been frightening and infuriating, especially since you were holding your son. I know as a parent I feel more vulnerable when I'm with my kids, and more shaken if anything weird happens.

I believe that what you ran into were three board young men who saw you as vulnerable (maybe in part because you are Asian, maybe you are smaller than them, you were also holding a baby) and they decided to be intimidating because they could. There probably are some negative stereotypes of Asian Americans in the AA community in DC, probably mostly born of ignorance and inexperience dealing with any Asians beyond the ones who run corner stores. Many of those Asians are suspicious of black people, for both real and imagined reasons, there is often a language and cultural barrier, and there you have a recipe for some largely baseless contempt on both sides.

I think what really happened is they just perceived that you were vulnerable and they decided to be intimidating because they could. Yes, black people do carry racist ideas about Asians here and everywhere and no there isn't usually any kind of really good reason. This is how racism works.

Anonymous wrote:I think the below event to be an act of racism, but I would like a member from the African American community to verify or help me see why I'm wrong.

While picking up my child from daycare today (between Cameron Station and Old Town Alexandria, just off of Duke Street), I encountered four African American males while walking back to my car, 10 month old child in arms. My car was parked in front of the daycare building along the curb. They, the four African American youths (between 18 and 25 of age), were walking parallel to the street, on the street itself. We reached my car at the same time. One of the youths looked at me while I reached for my car door and, without breaking stride, spat on the driver's side of the door while looking me right in the eye.

Racism? Or am I overreacting?

Good on them.
Dear they weren't thinking about you. Until you stared them up and down in fear of your life.
I saw the same cats and gotta 'what's up' nod.

Signed- black single momma raising a 1/2 white (straight up white kid to the eye) babe.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, it seems like you are either searching for a validation that it is now ok, for you to stereotype all African Americans going forward or you are being deliberately obtuse so everyone will rally around you. Or maybe you are trying to start a race war in DC. The whole situation is bizarre and I find it equally bizarre that you are even considering having a face to face with some of your co-workers about this. Just bizarre.

OP here-- PP, I'm asking a pretty simple question. Did people of my race do something to people of their race in recent history to justify this act of overt hostility? Or, is it like other PPs have said, just something young males do here in the D.C. area?

I'm not used to young males walking around and acting this overtly hostile toward others. So I'm thinking it's the former issue-- in which case, I'd like to be enlightened. I'm not drama mongering or trolling-- As an Asian American, I want to know if African Americans have a reason to be hostile toward me in this area because others representing my race, have negatively impacted the African American community in this area.

You are right in that I am searching for validation for stereotyping young African American males going forward. If there is a trend of overt hostility from young African American males toward peoples of other races then I'd like to know so I can avoid putting myself in a similar situation in the future. Not trying to start a race war, but just trying to understand the underlying issues.

Too bad you can't wear a sign so my African American son could avoid the likes of you. Despite how much your future actions will harm him, I'll still teach him it's wrong to judge an entire group of people by the actions of 1 person.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, it seems like you are either searching for a validation that it is now ok, for you to stereotype all African Americans going forward or you are being deliberately obtuse so everyone will rally around you. Or maybe you are trying to start a race war in DC. The whole situation is bizarre and I find it equally bizarre that you are even considering having a face to face with some of your co-workers about this. Just bizarre.

OP here-- PP, I'm asking a pretty simple question. Did people of my race do something to people of their race in recent history to justify this act of overt hostility? Or, is it like other PPs have said, just something young males do here in the D.C. area?

I'm not used to young males walking around and acting this overtly hostile toward others. So I'm thinking it's the former issue-- in which case, I'd like to be enlightened. I'm not drama mongering or trolling-- As an Asian American, I want to know if African Americans have a reason to be hostile toward me in this area because others representing my race, have negatively impacted the African American community in this area.

You are right in that I am searching for validation for stereotyping young African American males going forward. If there is a trend of overt hostility from young African American males toward peoples of other races then I'd like to know so I can avoid putting myself in a similar situation in the future. Not trying to start a race war, but just trying to understand the underlying issues.

What will you do? You must park near your child's daycare. Are you thinking about changing daycares or asking someone to accompany you to the car?

OP here-- All seem somewhat reasonable suggestions. Or perhaps modify time of day that I pick up my child. Or avoid pick up until the coast is clear. Plenty of options, if there is an actual issue.

If it turns out that there's a general tension between Asian Americans and African Americans, I'll start avoiding going to places that are predominantly African American. If there's no tension, I'll specifically avoid that group of young men (which I intend to do any way).

Omg op, why are you being so obtuse?!? So many people have been telling you it was just some idiot punk kid. I've seen acts of agression from people of all races. Some people are just angry, idiotic people. I'm sorry that you are looking for some deep meaning in all of this. Let it go op. Do you also think all muslims are terrorists who hate America? All latinos are illegal immigrants who are going to make cat calls at you? Seriously op, you're the racist sounding one here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, it seems like you are either searching for a validation that it is now ok, for you to stereotype all African Americans going forward or you are being deliberately obtuse so everyone will rally around you. Or maybe you are trying to start a race war in DC. The whole situation is bizarre and I find it equally bizarre that you are even considering having a face to face with some of your co-workers about this. Just bizarre.

OP here-- PP, I'm asking a pretty simple question. Did people of my race do something to people of their race in recent history to justify this act of overt hostility? Or, is it like other PPs have said, just something young males do here in the D.C. area?

I'm not used to young males walking around and acting this overtly hostile toward others. So I'm thinking it's the former issue-- in which case, I'd like to be enlightened. I'm not drama mongering or trolling-- As an Asian American, I want to know if African Americans have a reason to be hostile toward me in this area because others representing my race, have negatively impacted the African American community in this area.

You are right in that I am searching for validation for stereotyping young African American males going forward. If there is a trend of overt hostility from young African American males toward peoples of other races then I'd like to know so I can avoid putting myself in a similar situation in the future. Not trying to start a race war, but just trying to understand the underlying issues.

What will you do? You must park near your child's daycare. Are you thinking about changing daycares or asking someone to accompany you to the car?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - "squinty/slitty eyes"? seriously? that is how you would describe yourself? get real please. this seems like a drama mongering post.

OP here-- It's an accurate description. I have squintier/slittier eyes than, say, white people. Am reminded of such in a jocular manner on a fairly regularly basis, but I don't mind at all. Not drama mongering, but simply raising awareness for myself.

OP, just curious, how long have you been in the U.S.?

OP here-- 22 years.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - "squinty/slitty eyes"? seriously? that is how you would describe yourself? get real please. this seems like a drama mongering post.

OP here-- It's an accurate description. I have squintier/slittier eyes than, say, white people. Am reminded of such in a jocular manner on a fairly regularly basis, but I don't mind at all. Not drama mongering, but simply raising awareness for myself.

OP, just curious, how long have you been in the U.S.?

Anonymous wrote:Op, it seems like you are either searching for a validation that it is now ok, for you to stereotype all African Americans going forward or you are being deliberately obtuse so everyone will rally around you. Or maybe you are trying to start a race war in DC. The whole situation is bizarre and I find it equally bizarre that you are even considering having a face to face with some of your co-workers about this. Just bizarre.

OP here-- PP, I'm asking a pretty simple question. Did people of my race do something to people of their race in recent history to justify this act of overt hostility? Or, is it like other PPs have said, just something young males do here in the D.C. area?

I'm not used to young males walking around and acting this overtly hostile toward others. So I'm thinking it's the former issue-- in which case, I'd like to be enlightened. I'm not drama mongering or trolling-- As an Asian American, I want to know if African Americans have a reason to be hostile toward me in this area because others representing my race, have negatively impacted the African American community in this area.

You are right in that I am searching for validation for stereotyping young African American males going forward. If there is a trend of overt hostility from young African American males toward peoples of other races then I'd like to know so I can avoid putting myself in a similar situation in the future. Not trying to start a race war, but just trying to understand the underlying issues.

Anonymous wrote:OP - "squinty/slitty eyes"? seriously? that is how you would describe yourself? get real please. this seems like a drama mongering post.

OP here-- It's an accurate description. I have squintier/slittier eyes than, say, white people. Am reminded of such in a jocular manner on a fairly regularly basis, but I don't mind at all. Not drama mongering, but simply raising awareness for myself.

OP - "squinty/slitty eyes"? seriously? that is how you would describe yourself? get real please. this seems like a drama mongering post.

OP, this isn't the west coast. Not that there aren't race relations issues on the west coast, but this area isn't the same. Being Asian here still means that you are quite in the minority.

Op, it seems like you are either searching for a validation that it is now ok, for you to stereotype all African Americans going forward or you are being deliberately obtuse so everyone will rally around you. Or maybe you are trying to start a race war in DC. The whole situation is bizarre and I find it equally bizarre that you are even considering having a face to face with some of your co-workers about this. Just bizarre.

NP here. I don't know and I don't care if its racist or not, but I always try to stay away from loud groups of young males. I tend to be more cautious encountering groups of AA youths, when I think about it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is just reprehensible. I don't know why everyone wants to jump on here claiming it's not representative of young black male behavior, but I have seen this sort of behavior from young black males, too -- and have never seen it from any other race in this country. I don't think this act was racism against OP, but I do think it's a deep cultural and social issue that many urban black males grow up behaving this way, but get a pass because it's "racist" to call them out. I'm calling them out: this is not the way a human being in a civilized nation should ever treat the mother of a baby in front of that baby, and PPs are fooling themselves if they think it doesn't cause people like OP and me to associate those behaviors with the whole group. I know this is an unpopular thing to say and think.

You haven't been around enough. This is young punk behavior, propped up by the presence of his like-minded companions.

Sorry, but there IS a real problem with the black youth in this city. I grew up here and there is a lot of hostility. I then lived in a racially diverse neighborhood off of U street for 10 years and witnessed it over and over again: young black males acting very hostile and angry towards me. More than a handful of times I had males say racially charged things to me like "You better get inside your house whitey" etc etc etc. Of course I don't judge the entire black population over what seems to be a serious problem in this city - but still, it shouldn't be ignored. I'm not talking about "typical teenage punk behavior" here.

What did you do when they confronted you? What would you recommend?